Golf course



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United States Patent 3,464,703 GOLF COURSE Theodore L. Vallas, 3202 Vista Way, Oceanside, Calif. 92054 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 502,895, Oct. 23, 1965. This application June 14, 1967, Ser.

Int. Cl. A631) 6'7/02 US. Cl. 273176 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An outdoor golfing fairway extends from an enclosed covered area which contains putting, sand trap, and driving areas. The inside of the enclosed covered area is insulated from the outdoor fairway by an air screen through which golf balls may be driven into the fairway from the driving and sand trap areas. Simulated golf green water targets are positioned on the fairway at various distances from the enclosed covered area so that a game of golf may be played from and within the enclosed covered area without a golfer leaving same. Luminescent means are provided for marking boundaries, hazards and the like.

Cross reference to related application This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 502,895, filed Oct. 23, 1965.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention falls within the general field of golf games and particularly relates to a condensed game of golf, which may be played within a very limited area, such as the area normally occupied by a driving range, but in which the play to various holes of different lengths and degrees of difficulty is approximated and the actual and full-sized shots are made, all within the limited area. This provides for a large number of golfers to play simultaneously upon a limited area and each play essentially a full game of golf. It is also possible to standardize in this manner and thus it can be used for such events as Olympic Games and the like, from which it partially derives its name.

Description of the prior art As known at the present time, golf consists only of play upon a full golf course, play upon a reduced sized golf course such as a Par Three Course, driving ranges, and miniature golf consisting principally of putting. In addition, there have been many efforts to make golfing machines of various types in which a ball is hit and a machine, or motion picture, records the simulated golf course arrangement. None of the present art encompasses a small, limited, area arrangement in which golf may be played regardless of the weather and full scale shots undertaken in each case, with the result that holes of varying lengths and difiiculty, even approximating holes upon any existing golf courses, may be played. Thus, a golfer may play a full nine or eighteen holes, or more, all while within one very limited location and with great speed. There is nothing approximating this in the prior art.

Summary This invention comprises a driving range upon which are strategically located, at different distances from the driving area, a number of area designated as greens with flags at holes indicating the normal golf green. These areas are protected by properly arranged trees, foliage, traps, and the like, and may be so arranged as to contain liquid, or the like, to hold a ball and mark the position when it hits upon the green area. Also provided is a chipping area, or approach area, from which second and third shots, and the like, are made, as well as a sand trap area adjacent the driving area, so that sand trap shots may be made when the ball goes into a sand trap in the normal course of the play from the longer shots.

A putting area is provided also, adjacent to the driving area so that the ball may be putted out from a distance approximating the distance from the cup upon which the ball arrives at the green area ultimately during the preliminary play of each hole.

It is an object and advantage of this game to provide a means for, in effect, playing a full eighteen holes of golf without leaving a highly confined area.

It is a further object and advantage of this game that the play of a game of golf may be standardized, regardless of terrain, so that in different areas the exact game may be replayed by different persons, if desired.

It is a further object and advantage of this invention to provide means for numerous golfers to play the equivalent of complete golf rounds in a highly limited area and without the delays normally attendant in a usual golf game.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for simulating the play of a full game of golf, regardless of weather conditions.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be clear to those skilled in the art upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a layout of this game showing the structure over the player area partially broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a section through 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a representative green area;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective of a golf course score card; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective of a representative chip shot area.

Description of a preferred embodiment This invention relates generally to games and more particularly to a novel, improved golf game, together with the layout and physical structure thereof.

The game of golf is played extensively in the United tates and other countries. A conventional golf course occupies a very large area and, consequently, a long time is required to play the standard eighteen holes. Also, golf courses are frequently crowded and it is difiicult to play expeditiously.

In addition to playing on a conventional golf course, a popular pastime for golfers is to practice on a driving range. However, practice on a driving range provides little challenge to a players competitive spirit and is an inadequate substitute for a golf game wherein different shots are made, depending upon the result of the previous shot.

I have developed a new game of golf which can be played on a very small area by many persons at the same time. My invention provides the competitive aspect of a full games, as well as the practice features of a driving range. Additionally, my invention makes it possible on a single layout to simulate the play on any given golf course by utilizing the score card from that particular course. Furthermore, I have devised compensating factors which insure that the score a golfer will shoot on my golf layout will closely duplicate the score he or she would shoot on such particular course.

Thus, it is an important object of this invention to provide a compact area upon which a full game of golf may be simulated, with a variety of strokes and with substitution of clubs as though an entire course were being played.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for simulating an entire round of golf in a short time.

It is a further object of this invention to providea layout for playing golf which lends itself to mass participation in a small area.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the game is laid out upon an area preferably rectangular in shape and although dimensions are not critical, it may be deminsioned approximately 300 yards long and from 120 to 160 yards wide. When utilized in accordance with my invention, this relatively small area provides a simulated game equivalent to an eighteen hole course. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, a basic playing area extends from a number of tee positions 11 spaced along tee area between sand area 210 and putting area 20. There may be nine or eighteen tee positions corresponding to holes on a golf course, or any other number of tee positions. After a golfer has used tee position No. 1, he can advance to tee position No. 2, and so on. However, the player may play the entire game from one tee position.

There is an area of sand 210 in front of the tee positions as illustrated, from which sand trap shots may be made as will be hereinafter described. Immediately in front of the sand area and approximately twenty yards from the sand trap strip are three grass greens 130a, 130b, and 130c onto which sand trap and chip shots may be made.

The field in front of the tee positions is marked, preferably, with luminescent stripes 100 through 114 every twenty yards so that they may be easily seen by a player during day or night play and he may judge the distance his shot has carried in each instance.

Spaced at intervals, for example, approximately 80-90 yards, 100-120 yards, 130-150 yards, 160-180 yards, 190-200 yards and 220 yards from the tee positions are simulated greens 30d through 30k, as illustrated. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the simulated greens are preferably shallow, water-filled areas 32 in elevated containers 31 lined with concrete, plastic, or the like. Each of the water-filled greens will have a submerged light 33 to illuminate the water for night playing. Also, each of the simulated greens may have sand traps about it in any desired pattern, such as traps 40 through 51. The sand (real or artificial) traps may be coated with a luminescent material, which glows at night for better distinction. An interesting feature of the layout is that the two greens 30g and 30h, located from tee area 11 at distances between approximately 160 to 200 yards, are preferably spaced relatively close together, thus providing a constriction in the fairway area. As will be apparent to those skilled in the game of golf, a maximum distance shot will carry over greens 30g and 30k, and a welldirected ball will roll through the constriction even on a shorter shot. However, a player who does not hit either a long or a straight shot will be penalized because the ball will land in a sand trap or the water of a simulated green 30g, 3012. This will create a condition often encountered on regular golf courses on long shots.

Natural trees 60 through 65, foliage, and the like are located about the layout and along the edges. Also, suitable out-of-bound markers (not shown) may be placed at the edges.

On the back side of the tee area is a putting area 20 on which are located holes 21. Each of the putting greens preferably has diiferent surface undulations, thereby providing varying putting' situations for the players. Numbered flags on poles 22 identify each putting area. Each green 30:: through 30k has similar flags 35 on poles 34. The fiagpoles, flags and out-of-bound markers may be coated with a luminescent material so that they will be clearly visible during night play.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the various playing areas are preferably at different elevations, although this is not absolutely necessary.

A shelter 200 extends over tee positions 11, sand area 210 and putting area 20. The roof 202 of shelter 200 has removable transparent or translucent panels so that the covered areas will be protected during inclement weather. Also the shelter may be air-conditioned or heated. It is not necessary that the front of the shelter be enclosed, as air screen 212-216-218, well known in the art, will insulate the interior.

In playing my game, a golfer selects a course of play which can be based on the score card, FIGURE 4, from any given golf course, or which can follow a score card made specifically for this game. Assuming that the score card, such as that illustrated in FIGURE 4, indicates that the distance from the tee to the hole of the first hole is 432 yards, the player will select the golf club (usually a driver) he would normally use on a hole of this length for his first shot.

The player will now drive and will observe the distance his ball travels. Assuming in this case that the ball stops at 220 yards, the player will have a hypothetical shot of 212 yards to reach the hole. Accordingly, the next shot will be to green 30k which is approximately that distance. He then will select the golf club necessary to reach this green just as though he were on a regulation course. If his shot carries and lands on water-filled green 30k at which he was shooting, he will now go directly to putting area 20. To this point, the players performance is the same as though he were on the green putting for a Birdie Three. He drops his putting ball at a distance, approximating his estimate of where his ball hit the green, away from the appropriate hole 21. If he one putts he gets a Birdie; if he two putts he will get a Par; and if he three putts he gets a Bogie; etc.

In the event that the player on his second shot had missed the green, he would have shot for whichever green was the closest to the approximate remaining distance (over or under), until he lands on the green, he will shoot again from tee area 11, unless he lands in a sand trap, when he lands on the correct green, he will go to putting area 20, and putt from the appropriate distance.

Assuming that on any shot the player misses the green he is shooting for and lands in one of the sand traps, he then drops his ball in the sand 12 in front of his tee position and blasts out to one of the greens 30a, 30b, or 300. If his shot misses the green, he will take an automatic penalty stroke, and will commence putting, if his shot lands on the green, he will putt without penalty and will finish putting until he sinks the putt.

The use of water for the simulated greens, together with the additional stroke of one in the event the green is missed, is a compensating factor, allowing some shots to figuratively stay on the green when they might have bounced off, and, with the one shot penalty for missing the green, the overall score has been found to be almost exactly the score that any given golfer would take had he been playing a particular course. Also, the entire grass playing areas may be of artificial grass, such as nylon, which further equalizes the play. Players may continue their play through any number of holes, normally multiples of 9 or 18.

Thus, in playing the entire game, the score for each hole will be recorded on the score card. Any number of persons may play or one person may play alone. In the case where two or four players play together, they will play in rotation just as though they were on a regulation course, with the person who is fartherest away from the hole taking the next shot. One of the advantages of play upon my layout is that the plyaers remain grouped together throughout the game, thereby creating a more social atmosphere for play. Furthermore, my game is arranged so that each player can see the greens, sand traps, and other obstacles from his shooting position, which eliminates from the game any advantage based on knowledge of the course.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the embodiment shown is for illustrative purposes only.

I claim:

1. A golf game layout comprising a covered area, having an enclosure thereabout, with an air screen on one side thereof insulating the interior of said enclosure from outside weather conditons; a putting area within said enclosed covered area; a golf ball driving area within said enclosed covered area and adjacent said putting area; a sand trap area within said enclosed covered area and adjacent said driving area; an uncovered fairway area exposed to weather conditions extending away from and outside of said enclosed covered area; said fairway area being so positioned relative to the air screen side of said enclosed covered area that golf balls may be driven into said fairway area from said sand trap and driving areas through said air screen; a number of target areas, simulating the appearance of golf greens, located at various positions in said fairway area so as to provide golf green targets at approximate distances of from 20 to 220 yards from said driving area; and a plurality of natural, or simulated, hazards, including trees, shrubbery,

water, sand, and the like, at various positions in said fairway area, all of said areas being so coop-erable with one another that a game of golf may be played from and within said enclosed covered area without a golfer leaving same.

2. The golf game layout of claim 1 in which said putting and fairway areas are covered with artificial grass.

3. The golf game layout as described in claim 2 in which the simulated golf green target areas comprise containers of Water.

4. The golf game layout of claim 3 including means for illuminating said golf green water areas and luminescent means for marking boundaries, hazards, and the like.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,851,423 3/1932 Ely. 2,248,053 7/1941 Bales. 2,455,806 12/ 1948 Reach. 2,482,210 9/1949 Reach et al. 3,350,099 10/1967 Smart.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

